Timing device



Jan. 12, 1965 I c. ELDER 3,165,188

TIMING DEVI-CE Filed May 13, 1963 FIG. I 76 FIG. 2 59 CLARENCE L E LDERBY a] g United States Patent 3,165,188 IE/KING DEVICE Clarence L. Elder,Baltimore, Md, assignor to Elder Systems Corporation, Baltimore, Md, acorporation of Maryland Filed May 13, 1963, Ser. No. 280,029 4 Claims.(Cl. 1944) The present device relates to a timing device and is acontinuation-in-part of my application for Letters Patent filed in theUS. Patent Oflice December 21, 1962, Serial No. 247,468, now abandoned.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a device for measuringtime for the future operation of a serv ice, machine and the like, inwhich the time period is substantially longer than is normally customaryin most timing operations such as, weekly, bi-weekly or monthly.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and fool-proofmechanism to carry out the primary object of the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a token type controlelement that is only usable in operation and has no value for otherpurposes.

A still further object of the invention is to provide tokens ofdiiferent control features for difierent time periods.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means by which anadditional period of time may be added after the time period on thetoken has expired before the cycle of the timing device is completed. i

While several objects have been set forth, other objects, uses andadvantages will become more apparent as the nature of the invention ismore fully disclosed, which consists in its novel construction,arrangement and combination of its several parts illustrated in theaccompanying drawings and described in the detailed description tofollow.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatical vertical view of the timing device.

FIGURE 2 is a diagrammatical fragmentary view of the contact carryingmember C shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a diagrammatical fragmentary vertical view on areduced scaleof the token carrying channel, showing two tokens Within the channel.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of the token.

In describing the invention, like character references are used to pointout like and similar parts throughout the several views.

The device is provided with a frame such as shown at for supporting thetimer mechanism and a housing, such as shown at 12 for enclosing thedevice.

One of the principal features of the timing mechanism is carried out bythe operation of an electric motor 14, in that, the motor is adapted torotate and tokenlS at a very slow rate. When the electric current issupplied to the motor 14, the small gear 26 carried by the motor 14 isrotated, which in turn rotates thelarger gear 22. The gear 22 is eitherfixed or rotated about a shaft. 24. Adapted to rotate with the gear 22is a small angular gear 26, which operates a larger angular gear 28. Thegear 28 is'either fixed or rotated about a shaft 3i) carried in theportion iii of the supporting frame. Adapted to be ro- 3,lh5,l88Patented Jan. 12, I965 of the token 15. The pin portion 42 is providedwith means such as splines for engaging the token and rotating the same.The shaft 46 is slidable perpendicular to the plane of the circulartoken element in order to engage the aperture and rotate the token 15when the token is in position to be operated and to withdraw the tokento the position shown by the dotted lines 15' and out of its operatingposition and in a position to be discharged into a suitable tokencollection tray (not shown). The pin 42 and the shaft 40 are operated bya suitable slow operating solenoid 48.

The operation of the device is primarily controlled by a time controlunit 563. This time control unit 50 is adapted to be automaticallymovable back and forth along the radius of the token adjacent at leastone face thereof and supported upon a track 52 from its position shownin full lines to the position shown in dotted lines at St).

The time control is electrical operated and is supplied with electriccurrent through the bracket member 54, of which the face adjacent theelement St? is provided with means of making electric contact therewith.The bracket 54 is constructed of some non-conductive material such asBakelite, having metal conductor strips 57, 58, and 59 against whichspring loaded contact elements carried by the time control unit 50 arein contact as the element is 'moved along the rack 52, current beingsupplied to the bracket 50 through the wire 66.

Referring'again to the token 15, it is provided with a recessed spiralgroove 46 and may have one or more spirals about the token. In FIGURE 3only one spiral is shown, however, the face of the tokenmay have inplace of the spiral groove a magnet path which may be charged to operatesimilar to a magnet tape to control the downwardly movement of the timecontrol unit Stl.

The device is adapted to operate on ordinary volt current which is fedinto a conventional transformer 59 by lead wires 69 and 62 Where thevoltage is substantially reduced and fed therefrom through wire 64 tothe frame of the device and the wire 66 to the time control unit Stlthrough the slide contact bracket member The unit 59 through itselectrical sliding connection wtih the member 54 controls the operationof the motor 14 through wire 67 for rotating the token as previouslydescribed. The unit 50 also carries mechanisms for moving itself up therack 52 for any number of predetermined downward trips over the face ofthe same token periods through means of a stepping switch 43. The unitalso carries means for energizing the solenoid 48 for moving the end 42into the opening 44 of the token and for withdrawing the shaft 40 fromthe opening 44 in the token and for withdrawing the token to a dischargeposition as shown by dotted line 15 in FIGURE 1. The unit 50 may Thetokens are provided-with a channel 73 which is adapted to straddle a bar74 to keep the tokens in a definite position when they are injected intothe device. That is, as shown, the starting position of the time controlunit 59 is preferably at the outer end 46' of the recessed spiral groove46, which is at the outer end of the spiral, the time control unit 50being adapted to work toward the center of the token, that is, the unit56 starts in claims.

. 3 the position as shown by the dotted lines 5% in FIGURE 1 and movesto the position as shown in full lines at 56.

Referring again to FEGURE 3, the guide members 71 and 72 are adapted toreceive one or more tokens as shown at 115 and 15'. In order to preventthe token 15 from interfering with the operation of token 15" stop 1'5is provided to support the token 15' out of contact with the token 15".The object being, that at times it may be advantageous to place two ormore tokens in the device to cause the apparatus to operateconsecutively from one token to the other which, of course, wouldincrease the operation period of the apparatus being operated.

The machine may be constructed in multiple form whereby the same drivingmeans and other general functions may be utilized to operate two or moretiming mechanisms in which two or more tokens may be used at the sametime for timing the operation of two or more separate electric switcheswhich in turn control the operation of a particular apparatus. 7

V The device is adapted for use with all kinds of apparatus such as gasmeters, washing machines, radios, television etc. and is connectedthereto by a suitable outlet 73 and a wire 76. However, any type ofconnection with the device may be used.

In its operation, the unit 59 may be normally positioned adjacent therotatable axis of the token and at the position where it is shown infull lines. By inserting a token 15, the token will operate a switch 7%which is connected to the unit 50 by the wire '71. the unit St? willcause the solenoid 4 8 to become energizing by operating an electriccontact which will send a current out through one of the metal strips onthe member 54, and through wire 65, which will in turn energize thesolenoid 48 and the shaft to be extended into the aperture 44 of thetoken, and at the same time current will be supplied to the motor 14through wire 6'7 which will in turn rotate the token at a very slowpredetermined speed. The rotating speed of the token may be as slow, oras fast as the situation demands. In FKGURE 3 of the present drawings,the token is designed to rotate once every twenty-four hours. At thesame time a finger 51 carried by the time control unit 56 is backed otfand the unit 59 moves to a position as indicated by the dotted line a59, when the finger 5 is extended toward the token and unit may'repeatits operation as often as the step switch is set'for. Upon the lastmovement of the unit 56 towards the center by the tokens the circuits tothe apparatus may be immediately broken, or retained for a definitetime, by

the time delaying switch. However, the solenoids may be energized afterthe unit'5t has made its last inward trip to withdraw the token andposition it to be deposited into the token collection tray and alsooperate to place a new token in position within the timing device.

While a specific structure of an invention has been illustrated andspecifically pointed out in the written description it is not intendedas a limitation and therefore the scope of the invention is best definedin the appended I claim;

1. A timing device for governing the future operation of an electricswitch including a frame and housing for supporting and enclosing amechanism therefor, said mechanism comprising in combination:

Mechanisms within (a) a rotatable time governing token of relativelynarrow width formed with a pair of fiat substantially parallel sidefaces and of substantially round configuration having means adjacent itscenter adapted to engage on operating element therefor;

(b) a time control unit having a token engaging element adapted to bemovable back and forth over a predetermined path and extending over atleast the radius of the token adjacent one of the faces of the token andin a plane parallel therewith;

(c) said token having a spiral groove in at least one face thereof forslidably receiving the token engaging element for producing at least onemovement of the back and forth motion of the time control unit;

(d) means operated by the token engaging element for operating saidelectric switch;

wherein the time for future operation of the electrical switch isgoverned by the groove in the face of the rotatable token.

2. In a timing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein means are providedfor repeating the travel of the time control unit over the face of thesame token and means for operating the electrical switch at the end ofits last controlled travel of the timing device by the token.

3. In a timing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein means are providedfor the operation of the electrical switch at a predetermined time afterthe time control unit has been moved to the end of its controlledmovement by the token.

4. A timing device for governing the future operation of an electricswitch including a frame and housing for supporting and enclosing amechanism therefor, said mechanism comprising in combination:

(a) a rotatable time governing token of relatively narrow width formedwith a pair of flat substantially parallel side faces and ofsubstantially round configuration having means adjacent its centeradapted to engage an operating element therefor;

(b) a channel for receiving one or more tokens and for delivering singletokens into operating position in the timing device and means forsupporting the adjacent token out of contact position with the token inoperating position;

(c) a time control unit having a token engaging element adapted to bemovable back and forth over a predetermined path and extending over atleast the radius of the token adjacent one of the faces of the token andin a plane parallel therewith;

(a!) said token having a spiral groove in at least one face thereof forslidably receiving the token engaging element for producing at least onemovement of the back and forth motion of the time control unit;

(e) means operated by the token engaging element for operating saidelectric switch wherein the time for the future operation of theelectrical switch is governed by the groove in the face of the rotatabletoken.

References tilted by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,038,648 9/12Pleoger. 1,795,739 5/31 Shield.

FOREIGN PATENTS 16,229 11/16 Great Britain.

SAMUEL F. CGLEMAN, Primary Examiner.

ERNEST A. FALLER, In, Examiner.

1. A TIMING DEVICE FOR GOVERNING THE FUTURE OPERATION OF AN ELECTRICSWITCH INCLUDING A FRAME AND HOUSING FOR SUPPORTING AND ENCLOSING AMECHANISM THEREFOR, SAID MECHANISM COMPRISING IN COMBINATION ; (A) AROTATABLE TIME GOVERNING TOKEN OF RELATIVELY NARROW WIDTH FORMED WITH APAIR OF FLAT SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL SIDE FACES AND OF SUBSTANTIALLYROUND CONFIGURATION HAVING MEANS ADJACENT ITS CENTER ADAPTED TO ENGAGEON OPERATING ELEMENT THEREFOR; (B) A TIME CONTROL UNIT HAVING A TOKENENGAGING ELEMENT ADAPTED TO BE MOVABLE BACK AND FORTH OVER APREDETERMINED PATH AND EXTENDING OVER AT LEAST THE RADIUS OF THE TOKENADJACENT ONE OF THE FACES OF THE TOKEN AND IN A PLANE PARALLELTHEREWITH; (C) SAID TOKEN HAVING A SPIRAL GROOVE IN AT LEAST ONE FACETHEREOF FOR SLIDABLY RECEIVING THE TOKEN ENGAGING ELEMENT FOR PRODUCINGAT LEAST ONE MOVEMENT OF THE BACK AND FORTH MOTION OF THE TIME CONTROLUNIT; (D) MEANS OPERATED BY THE TOKEN ENGAGING ELEMENT FOR OPERATINGSAID ELECTRIC SWITCH; WHEREIN THE TIME FOR FUTURE OPERATION OF THEELECTRICAL SWITCH IS GOVERNED BY THE GROOVE IN THE FACE OF THE ROTATABLETOKEN.